Compare towns
Ashby vs Ayer vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashby | Ayer | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,645Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
| Ashby and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.